Part of the squad that played in the 2007 Rugby World Cup, Aguero played one game against Portugal. For a year that was his last appearance for the national team before Nick Mallett recalled him the following year. After a three-year absence from the national team between 2010 and 2013, Aguero worked his way back into contention thanks to good form with club side Zebre. Previously he had spent three seasons in England with Saracens.

MARTIN CASTROGIOVANNI

Prop 1.88m 119kg 21.10.1981

After starting out at Calvisano, Castrogiovanni made his international debut for Italy on June 8, 2002, during the tour against the All Blacks and since has become a regular in the national side. His 12 Test tries is the most by any prop in international rugby, and he made his 100th appearance for Italy against Fiji in 2013. After seven seasons with Leicester he joined Toulon in 2013 and won the Top 14 and European Cup in his first season with the club.

ENRICO BACCHIN

Fly-half/Centre 1.82m 97kg 28.11.1992

An up-and-coming three-quarter, Treviso's Enrico Bacchin can play both at fly-half and in the centres. The youngster arrived at Treviso in 2013 and two-years later was called into the national team during the Six Nations. He made his Test debut, starting in midfield, in the win over Scotland, before coming off the bench in the final two games of the tournament.

DARIO CHISTOLINI

Prop 1.80m 110kg 14.09.1988

Born in South Africa, Chistolini started his rugby career with Petrarca Padova before moving to England to play for Gloucester in 2011. After two years at Kingsholm he went back to Italy to play for Zebre. Good form with the Parma-based side saw him earn a call-up to the Test team and he made his international debut in 2014 against Samoa.

LORENZO CITTADINI

Prop 1.91m 125kg 17.12.1982

Cittadini made his debut for Italy against Ireland in February 2008 during the Six Nations having impressed for club side Calvisano. He played at the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand and established himself as the primary back-up to Martin Castrogiovanni at tighthead. He left Treviso, after a five-year spell, in 2014 to move to Wasps where he has made an impressive start to his career.

MICHELE RIZZO

Prop 1.88m 115kg 16.09.1982

A veteran prop, Michele Rizzo has been part of the Italian squad for a decade now, having made his debut back in 2005 against Australia. Due to the competition in the Azzurri front row, he's struggled to establish himself as first choice, often settling for a replacement role. In 2014 he was sent off for a headbutt against France, while he has never been to a World Cup.

LEONARDO GHIRALDINI

Hooker 1.84m 99kg 26.12.1984

Ghiraldini began his career with Petrarca Padova before a five-year spell at Treviso starting in 2009. The powerful hooker played his first international game against Japan during Italy's 2006 June tour and has established himself as first choice, featuring in the last eight editions of the Six Nations. He captained Italy for the first time in 2008, while over the off-season he left Treviso to join Leicester Tigers.

DAVIDE GIAZZON

Hooker 1.83m 108kg 16.01.1986

A latecomer to the highest stage, hooker Davide Giazzon was 26 before he first got his chance at Test level in 2012. Since then he has become a regular for the Azzurri behind Leonardo Ghiraldini. However a move from Zebre to Treviso in 2014 seems to have backfired, with his replacement at Zebre, Andrea Manici, leapfrogging him in the pecking order.

ANDREA MANICI

Hooker 1.83m 104kg 28.04.1990

Part of a new generation of Italian rugby players, Manici has been part of Zebre's improvement over the last two seasons and made his Italy debut against Samoa in June 2013 as a result. A former Italy U20 international, the hooker played for Parma before joining Zebre.

VALERIO BERNABO

Second row 1.98m 110kg 03.03.1984

A well-travelled forward, Valerio Bernabo is one of the more experienced members of the Italian squad, having made his Test debut back in 2004. While he has not been able to establish himself as a first team regular, he has been in and around the Azzurri squad for more than a decade, and at club level he has played for Calvisano, Brive, Rome, Treviso and finally Zebre from 2014 onwards. He was part of both the 2007 and 2011 World Cup squads.

JOSHUA FURNO

Lock/Flanker 1.99m 102kg 21.10.1989

He was born in Australia but grew up in Italy in the town of Benevento. He began his career with Viadana, then played for Aironi in the PRO12, Biarritz in France and now Newcastle in the Premiership. He made his Test debut as a substitute in a 13–6 win against Scotland in the 2012 Six Nations Championship. On 22 February 2014, he scored his first try for Italy in a Six Nations defeat to Scotland, and was subsequently named Man of the Match.

MARCO FUSER

Second row 1.98m 116kg 09.03.1991

An established starter for Treviso, second row Marco Fuser made his Test debut back in 2012 on a June tour to Canada. That came after impressing for Italy at age group level, but he has had to bide his time for more chances with the national team. Recalled for the 2015 Six Nations, he featured off the bench against Ireland and in the last-gasp win away to Scotland at Murrayfield.

QUINTIN GELDENHUYS

Lock 2.03m 116kg 19.06.1981

Born in South Africa, Geldenhuys is a second row for Zebre. He made his debut for Italy against Australia on June 13, 2009 and qualifies through residency. He captained Italy in all three Tests of their June tour in 2014.

MAURO BERGAMASCO

Back row 1.85m 98kg 01.05.1979

Set to become only the second man after Brian Lima to play in five World Cups, Mauro Bergamasco made his Italy debut all the way back in 1998. The vastly-experienced flanker will retire after the tournament, and while no longer an automatic first choice for the Azzurri, he started two games during the 2015 Six Nations. As well as playing flanker, he has notably started both at scrum-half and on the wing for Italy.

FRANCESCO MINTO

Lock/Flank 1.93m 102kg 20.05.1987

Capable of playing in both the second row and the back row, Minto made his international debut for Italy in 2012. At club level he plays for Treviso, who he joined in 2010 having begun his career in Crociati. His first international appearance came against New Zealand.

SERGIO PARISSE

Flank/Number Eight 1.96m 112kg 12.09.1983

A number eight of great handling ability, Parisse's positional sense in the line-out and flair for getting across the gainline has marked him out as a special player in an often struggling Italian team. He was capped at the age of just 18 by then Italy coach John Kirwan, in a 64–10 defeat against New Zealand in June 2002. Parisse scored his first Test try against Canada in the 2003 Rugby World Cup. He has gone on to captain Italy and earned his 100th cap in 2013 against Fiji. At club level he plays for Stade Français.

SAMUELA VUNISA

Number Eight 1.89m 95kg 19.08.1988

Born in Fiji, Vunisa moved to Italy to play for Calvisano originally before joining Zebre in 2013. A number eight, he played age grade level rugby for Fiji before getting called up for Italy for the first time for the 2014 November Tests.

ALESSANDRO ZANNI

Flank/Number Eight 1.93m 106kg 31.01.1984

Capable of playing across the back row, Zanni made his debut for the Italian national team in November 2005 in a Test against Tonga. He has since established himself as a regular in the Italy back row and has featured in the last nine editions of the Six Nations. He has played club rugby at Treviso since 2009.

EDOARDO GORI

Scrum-half 1.78m 81kg 05.03.1990

Born in Prato, Gori captained Italy U20 before he made his debut against Australia in 2010. He also played four games at the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. By November 2014, he had played 34 Tests for Italy, starting 24 times.

GUGLIELMO PALAZZANI

Scrum-half 1.77m 80kg 11.04.1991

Unusually versatile in that he can play both scrum-half and full-back, Guglielmo Palazzani has been used in the former role by the Azzurri since making his Test debut in 2014. The Zebre player made his debut with a start away to Fiji in June 2014 before featuring regularly off the bench that November and during the 2015 Six Nations.

MARCELLE VIOLI

Scrum-half 1.78m 82kg 11.10.1993

A surprise inclusion in Italy's 2015 Six Nations squad, scrum-half Marcello Violi is one of very few players plying his trade in Italy's National Championship with Calvisano. Unused in the end during the Six Nations, he has featured for Zebre as a permit player while they were missing their internationals. Previously he was a member of the Italy U20 side that won the 2013 Junior World Trophy.

TOMMASO ALLAN

Fly-half/Centre/Fullback 1.88m 87kg 26.04.1993

A product of the Wasps Academy Tommaso Allan hails from a rugby family; his Scottish father William Allan and his Italian mother Paola Berlato both played in Italy, while his uncle John Allan earned nine caps for Scotland. He played U19 for Western Province before joining French club Perpignan. Despite playing for Scotland at U17, U18 and U20s level, he made his Test debut for Italy, coming off the bench to score against Australia.

CARLO CONNA

Fly-half 1.91m 93kg 25.08.1992

Canna currently plays for Zebre in the PRO12 and the Heineken Cup. Canna followed in the footsteps of his father, Gerardo Canna who represented Italy at youth level. The talented young fly-half won the award for best player in the Championship of Excellence in 2014/15 after he enlisted in the State Police, which allowed him entry into the team of the Golden Flame in 2012. Canna established himself as a reliable goal-kicker for the Golden Flame, which resulted in a contract with Zebre for their 2015/2016 PRO12 season. He made his Test debut in 2015.

TOMMASO BENVENUTI

Centre/Wing/Fullback 1.85m 93kg 12.12.1990

A utility back who can play at centre, wing or full-back Benvenuti is a key player for French club Perpignan having moved there from Treviso. He made his Italy debut against Argentina on November 13, 2010, a month before his 20th birthday. He also played four games at the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

MICHELE CAMPAGNARO

Centre 1.84m 99kg 13.03.1993

A star of the future Campagnaro currently plays for Treviso in the PRO12. Plays mainly as a center but can also be seen on the wing and has played Sevens. On his debut match against Connacht in 2013, he was names Man of the Match. He scored 34 points in so games for Italy U20. Campagnaro made his Test bow in 2013.

GOZALO GARCIA

Centre 1.85m 96kg 18.02.1984

Garcia was born in Mendoza, Argentina. He played the U19 World Cup in 2003 and the U21 World Cup in 2005 for Argentina. In 2007 he moved to Italy to play with Calvisano, subsequently choosing to play for Italy and making his debut against South Africa in Cape Town in 2008. He was called up for the 2011 Rugby World Cup, playing in three games but without scoring. In 2012 he mosved from Treviso to Zebre.

ANDREA MASI

Fullback/Wing/Centre/Fly-half 1.86m 92kg 30.03.1981

Masi is a stalwart of the Italian team having played at three World Cups. In March 2011, Masi was named the 2011 Six Nations Player of the Championship. Masi scored Italy's late try in their first ever Six Nations Championship win against France. He currently plays for the English Premiership club Wasps.

LUKE MCLEAN

Fullback/Wing/Fly-half 1.90m 95kg 29.06.1987

McLean was eligible for both Australia, being his country of birth, and Italy, due to his Italian grandmother. He represented Australia U19, helping the side to win the World U19 Championship. He made his international debut for Italy against 2007 Rugby World Cup winners South Africa in 2008. McLean joined Benetton Treviso in 2009 where he played over 80 games. In mid-2014 he signed with the Sale Sharks on a two-year deal.

LEONARDO SARTO

Wing 1.92m 93kg 15.01.1992

In May 2013, Sarto was called up Italy for the South African Quadrangular Tournament. On his international debut against Scotland he scored his first try, narrowly losing the game 29-30. In 2014, Sarto debut his first Six Nations Championship, scoring two tries, one against Ireland and one against England.

GIOVANBATTISTA VENDITTI

Winger/Centre 1.87m 111kg 27.03.1990

One of Jacques Brunel's most successful call-ups to the Italy side, Giovanbattista Venditti made a flying start to his Test career with a try in only his second Test back in 2012 against England. A powerful runner, he is capable of playing both in the centres and on the wing, though it is in the latter position that he has predominantly featured at Test level. He will join Newcastle after the World Cup.

SIMONE FAVARO

Back-row 1.84m 99kg 07.11.1988

Favaro, the son of former Italy lock Roberto Favaro, began his career playing for the Treviso U19 team before stepping up to the Super 10 with Rovigo and Overmach Parma. Favaro was an early developer and, at the age of 20, was the youngest player included in Nick Mallett's squad for the 2009 Six Nations Championship. Favaro did not feature in the Championship; he subsequently made his debut against Australia in the 2009 June tour of the Southern Hemisphere. In June 2010 he joined Aironi for their first season in the PRO12.